The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-17

caused In the Senate. de went upon
the Supreme bench in 1881.
Justice Matthews is man Of YER
satile genius, a brilliant lawyer, an
effective speaker, and is developing
rare qualities as judge. He is still
In the prime OF his mature powers,
and ought to be good for many years
Of valuable and honorable service.
He has been married second time
since his appointment in the Judi
ciary, and lives at Washington in a
style BETTING his position.
The last two Supreme Court APP
pointees have been men Of wider ju-
dicial experience at the time of their
elevation to this office than any of
recent predecessors. Justice Horse
Gray, who was called, in 1881, from
the Chief Justiceship of the Supreme
Court of Massachusetts,, where he
had presided since 1873, had also
been an Associate Justice in the
same court Tor nine years, and the
reporter of its decisions for six years.
He is a native OF Boston, where he was
born in 1929, and is descended from
an eminent family. His grandfather
was one OF the Oldest merchant
princes OF Boston in the period of
the war Of 1872, and was president of
a bank which generously and patri-
otically came to the financial aid of
the government in time OF sore dis
tress.
Justice Gray was graduated at
Harvard College in 1919, and was
admitted to the bar in 1851, having
studied with Judge Lowell, now
United States Circuit Judge. He
was q law partner Of Judge Il. Rock
wood Hoar, and, with the exception
OF the time spent upon the bench Of
the Supreme Judiciary Court of
Massachusetts,, devoted himself, pre-
vious to his appointment to his pres
ent position, to the practice of law.
Physically, he is the giant Of the Su-
preme Court, towering above all his
associates, large men as they almost
all are, and possessing an intellect as
powerful and as finely developed as
his frame. His appointment and
that OF Judge Blatchiord have more
than preserved the court from deter
iorating-they have actually raised
the average OF ability in it. Justice
Gray is the only bachelor in the Su-
preme Court, but he keeps house in
Washington, on Rhode Island ave-
nue., his sister assisting him in the
discharge OF his social duties.
Justice Samuel Blatchford, Of New
York, is the junior member of the
court in length OF service, but not in
years or experience. For more than
q third OF a century his name has
been familiar TO the bar OF the coun-
try as the compiler Of some OF the
most important law reports, aud for
twenty years he has sat upon the
bench where he has been distin-
guished for his learning and the clear
ness aud correctness OF his decisions.
Born in New York City in 1920, he
was graduated from Columbia Col
lege when only seventeen years OF
age, and at once turned his attention
10 the study OF law. He was Gov.
William ii. Stewards secretary when
the latter was Chief Magistrate OF
New York, and in 1915 went to Au.
burn 10 practice law as q member Of
Gov. Stewards firm. In 1854 he re.
turned to the metropolis aud
soon attained a high pro-
fessional reputation. In 1855 be
published the repor s OF theadmiralty
ases in the United States District
Court for the Southern District Of
New York. He was already the re-
porter for the Circuit Court for the
Second Judicial District and had in
1852 begun the compilation Of Batch
lords Reports. His frat experience
upon the bench was as Judge Of the
District Court, in 1861. In 1878 he
was made, by President Hayes,
Judge Of the United States Circuit
Court, aud during the four years
that be served in that capacity il be-
came necessary for him TO render de-
cisions in a number OF very impor-
tant cases. All these decisions were
remarkable for their ability, aud
very few Of them were reversed on
appeal. He was appointed Associate
Justice IN 1883, after the place had
been offered TO Roscoe Conkling and
George Y. Edmunds. Justice Batch
ford is very wealthy, and at his
Washington residence on the corner
Of Fifteenth and X streets entertains
during the season with great ele.
gance aud very refined taste. Mrs.
Blatchiord, who is the daughter Of
Eben Appleton, OF Boston, and a sis
term law OF Daniel Webster's
daughter Julia, is lady Of the old
school.
The officers Of the Supreme Court
are few but they are chosen with
great care aud, as a rule, retain Of
fee during life. They are the clerk,
marshal aud reporter OF the opinions.
These have their assistants, aud the
whole corps comprises q dozen or
fifteen men, besides pages, doorkeep.
ers and messengers. The present
clerk is James II. McKenney, who
was appointed in 1880. lie had been
brought up from boyhood 10 the
clerks Office, having entered il in
1853, four years before Justice Miller
who is Oldest in service among the
members Of the court, when upon the
bench. He is still, apparently, a
young man, bright, intelligent, quick,
a universal iayorito aud a model Of
fetal.
John g. Nicolay, the marshal, was
appointed in 1872. lie is we'll known
as one Of the private secretaries OF
President Lincoln. and more recent
ly as the joint author with Col.
John Hay, OF the Lille OF Abraham
Lincoln, now publishing. lie isa
man OF studious habits aud literary
tastes. His frame is slight, and his
health not robust, but he
Is hard worker and
may be met more frequently
In the literary circles Of Washington
than In fashionable society.
j. Q. Bancroft Davis, the reporter,
has had a varied experience In the